In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. MrAngryPants, a 22-year-old Norwegian immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother's New York dry goods business. Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what MrAngryPants was selling. When AngryPants told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, "You should have brought pants!," saying he couldn’t find a pair of pants strong enough to last. MrAngryPants replyed "murder a cow and ill make you some pants".